Tubing oil saver



July 23, 1929. v, CR WEL L 1,721,806

TUBING OIL S'AVER Filed' Feb. 11, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 If v v I V I l 72 1 f 230 J 76 a; (6

11 l v l g i WITNESSE IN VE N TOR f 7 C dgfix I Foil 5L4 ATTORNEYS July 23, 1929; v, CRQWELL v I 1,721,806

TUBING OIL SAVER Filed Feb. 11, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \igz.

WITNESSES IN V E N TOR July 23, 1929. E. v. CROWELL 1,721,806

TUBING OIL SAVER Filed Feb. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES IN VEN TOR E/. CROW 1, L,

' ATTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES EBD V. CBOWELL,

0F IlOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOIR- OF ONE-HALF TO THE GUIBEBSON CORPORATION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TUBING OIL SAVER Application filed February 11, 1924. Serial No. 692,136.

This invention relates to tubing oil savers, and is an improvement on the constructlon 1llustrated in my #1,472,555, and my other contr1but1ons to this art.

Broadly speaking the invent1on formlng the subject attain all the objects and advantages set forth in the aforesaid patent and specifically the invention aims to provide a tubing oil saver wherein the packing rubbers are supported within the housing flatly in engagement w1th the upper and lower walls thereof so that leakage is reduced to a minimum and so that the distortion of the packing rubbers is prevented.

Another object is to provide a tubing oil saver which may be quickly assembled and applied without a substantial loss of oil or g A further object-of the invention is to provide a tubing oil saver which is, in reality, a casing-head top or ca in the form of a modified valve or gate, t e closing members of which are rubber, providing a yieldable seal through which tubing may be run, so designed that the rubber gates may be momentarily opened up to the full radial area of the casing and closed around the tubing as may be required in the tubing operation of an oil or gas well, and havingco-operative means of attachment on or to a casing head.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved tubing oil saver in use, one side of the tubing,

oil saver being shown in section.

Figure 2 is'a horizontal sectional view takon on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a group perspective illustratingrthe improved tubing oil saver.

. igure 6 is a side elevation of a modified adapter embodied in the invention.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 des- United States Patent,

matter of this application aims to ignates a casing within which the usual tub- 7 ing 6 is arranged.

Figure 1 illustrates that a casing head 7 is connected to the casing and a plurality of lead lines 8 may extend from the casing head to suitable points of discharge.

The improved tubing oil saver is generally designated by the numeral 9 and consists of a housing which as illustrated in Figure 5 consists of a pair of similarly formed sections 10 having their abutting edges flatly in con tact and provided with laterally projecting ears 11 through which fastening devices 2 may be extended. It will be seen that the sections 10 of the housing may be conveniently clamped onto an adapter without first slipping the housing over the upper end of the tubing, a feature which saves much time in operation.

Attention is directed to Figure 1 which i1- lustrates that the underside of each section 10 is provided with a depending flange 12 approximately L-shaped in cross section and cooperating with the underside of the section in the formation of a groove within which a packing 13 is arranged.

An adapter consisting of a pair of semicircular sections 14 is provided with laterally projecting flanges 15 received in the space between theflange 12 and the underside of the sections 10 whereby the housing is connected to the adapter.

The lower ends of sections 14 comprising the adapter are provided with laterally projectingfianges 16 received in the upper por tionof the casing head 7 and resting upon a packer 17. The upper surfaces of the flanges 16 arebeveled for engagement with fastening screw bolts 18 carried by the casing head. When the screws 18 are tightened, the sections 14 are forced down securely in engagement with the packer to provide a liquid tight connection between the adapter and the easing head. Also, the opposed edges of the sections 14 are provided with laterally projecting ears 20 for the reception of fastening devices 21 of any character.

The top of the housing is integral with the housing and is not detachable as in the case of my prior patent, previously mentioned. The upper sides of the sections of the housing 10 are, however, rabbeted or recessed as indicated at 22 for the reception of the base portion of a spider 23. Usual slips 24 are received in the spider 23 and are designed to v engage the tubing to hold the same. The

slips 24 have the usual hand grips 25. Fig-' ure 1 illustrates that the clamps 26 are carried by the top of the housing and are adaptheads or cages 41, the end portions of whichare reduced in width and are bent outwardly to provide L-shaped attaching members 42. The inner branches of the L-shaped attaching members 42 are provided with openings 44 adapted to register with openings 45in the tubing contact members 40 for the reception of fastening bolts 46. Attention is directed to Figure 2 which plainly illustrates that the fastening bolts 46 are extended lengthwise through the yieldable tubing contact members 40 or in other words the bolts 46 extend horizontally through the tubing contact members and consequently allow the upper and lower surfaces of the tubing contact members 40 to be flatly engaged with the opposed walls of the housing. Referring again to Figures 2 and 5, it will be seen that the tubing contact rubbers 40 are provided. with substantiallytriangular recesses 49 which completely receive the L-shaped attaching members 42 of the cages 41. The connection between the yieldable tubing contact rubbers 40 and the cages 41 is such that the full radial area of the upper and lower surfaces of the rubbers may have a perfectly tight connection with opposed walls of the housing for positively preventing the escape of fluid.

Also, by extending the bolts horizontallythrough the packing rubbers 40 the inner edges of the rubbers remain free for contact with each other and'for contact with the tubing and the couplings connecting the joints of the tubing. J v

The sealing members within the housing may be adjusted with relation to the tubing by means of adjusting screws 50, the inner portions of which are provided with heads 51 received in socket members 52 formed on the outer sides of the cages 41. The adjusting screws 50 are threaded through bosses formed on caps 54, the caps being secured by capscgews 55 to tubular extensions 56 on the outer s1 e.

In operation the opposed surfaces of the tubing contact members 40 will yield sufficiently to allow the joined up tubing to pass, but the tubing contact members will maintain a liquid tight connection between the tubing and the housing. As previously 1,7a1,soa

stated. the upper and lower surfaces of the tubing contact rubbers 40 are flatly in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the housing and leakage is therefore reduced to a minimum. In fact, it will be seen with reference to Figure 5 that the tubing contact rubbers 40 extend beyond the upper and lower edges of the cages 41 so that the rubbers may have good contact with the housing.

Should it be desired to lower a tool into the well, the screws 50 may be rotated for separating the tubing contact rubbers 40 and this allows a tool substantially greater in cross sectional area than the tubing to'be lowered into the well.

Of course the invention forming the subject of this application is capable of use either during the lowering or elevation of the tubin g in which case the slips 24 and the spider 23 function to anchor the tubing while tlie j oints of the tubing are being added or removed, this feature being shown in my previously mentioned prior patent.

One of the principal advantages distinctive to the invention resides in the fact that the housing and associated elements are designed in coacting symmetrical sections which may .be assembled in operative position upon the casing head and around; the tubing, or removed therefrom without having to strip it over the tubing. This renders it possible to assemble the tool in operative positionon the casing head without having to disturb the flow of oil or gas through the tubing, obviating the necessity of having to strip, it on, as it is commonly known in the oil field.

The adapter 60 illustrated in Figure 6 consists of a pair of exteriorly threaded sections which may be threaded into a coupling having similarly formed internal threads. The adapter 60 is formed with flanges 61 adapted to be interlocked with the flanges 12 and the adapter 60 functions in exactly the same manner as does the adapter 14 illustrated in Figure 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is '1. A tubing oil saver comprising a housing,

a sealing element arranged within the housing and comprising oppositely arranged tubing contact rubbers having their opposed sides formed with recesses to receive a tubing, the upper and lower surfaces of the tubing contact rubbers having direct contact with the upper and lower sides of the housing, cages partially receiving said rubbers, and fastening members extending horizontally through said rubbers and connected to the end portions of said cages.

. 2. A tubing oil saver comprising a housing, a sealing element arranged within the housing and comprising oppositely arranged tubing contact rubbers having their opposed sides formed with recesses to receive a tubing, the upper and lower surfaces of the tubing contact rubbers having contact with the upper and lower sides of the housing, cagespartially receiving said rubbers, and fastening members extending horizontally through said rubbers and connected to the end portions of said cages, the upper and lower surfaces of said rubbers being extended above and below the adjacent edges of the cages.

3. A tubing oil saver comprising a housing having upper and lower walls, the inner surfaces of which are flat, tubing contact rubbers arranged in pairs and in opposed relation and having recesses to receive a tubing, cages partially receiving said rubbers, bolts arranged horizontally and extending longitudinally through said rubbers and through the end portions of said cages, the upper and lower surfaces of said rubbers being extended beyond the edges of said cages and having a substantially liquid tight connection with the flat inner surfaces of the housing. a

4:. A tubing oil saver comprising a housing having upper and lower walls, the inner surfaces of which are flat, tubingcontact rubbers arranged in pairs and in opp sed relation and having recesses to receive a tubing, cages artially receiving said rubb iers, bolts exten ing longitudinally through said rubbers and throughthe end portions of said ca es, the upper and lower surfaces of said ru bers being extended beyond the edges of said cages and having a substantially liquid tight connection with the flat inner surfaces of the housing, and adjusting means connected to said cages and extending exteriorly of the housing.

5. A tubing oil saver comprising an adapter having its upper portion provided with a laterally projecting attaching flange, a housing having its underside provided with an in wardly projecting flange substantially L- shaped in cross section and cooperating with the housing in the formation of an annular groove receiving said first named flange, and a packing unit arranged in said groove and engaged by said first named flange.

6. A tubing oil saver comprising an adapter having its upper portion provided with a laterally projecting attaching flange, a housing having its underside provided with an inwardly projecting flange substantially L- shaped in cross section and cooperating with the housing in the formation of an annular groove receiving said first named flange, a

packing unit arranged in said groove and en-- gaged by said first named flange, packing rubers arranged in said housing and means to connect the adapter to a casing head.

7. A packer for tubin oil savers comprising substantially semi-circular rubbers .having their end portions formed with recesses, cages having L-shaped attaching portions reeeived in sald recesses, and bolts extending through said rubbers and through said attaching portions, said bolts being arranged between the upper and lower surfaces of the rubbers and substantially parallel thereto.

8. A tubing oil saver comprising oppositely arranged substantially semi-circular tubing contact members of yieldable material having recesses adjacent the end portions thereof and on the outer sides, cages curved longitudinally and having their end portions provided with attaching members received in said recesses, and fastening devices extending lengthwise through said rubbers and arranged between and in approximately parallel relation to the upper and lower surfaces of the rubbers and also being extended through said attaching members of the cages.

9. A tubing oil saver comprising oppositcly arranged rubbers having means for engaging a tubing, cages embracing the outer edges of the rubbers and having their end portions provided with attaching members extended into said rubbers, and fastening members extending through said rubbers and through the attaching members of the cages, the inner edges and the outer surfaces of the rubbers being entirely free of fastening devices.

10. A tubing oil saver comprising oppositely arranged rubbers having meansfor engaging a tubing, cages embracing the outer edges of the rubbers and having their end portions provided with attaching members extended into said rubbers, fastening members extending through said rubbers and through the attaching members of the cages, the inner edges and the outer surfaces of the rubbers being entirely free of fastening devices, and a housin receivin said rubbers and having substantially liqui tight engage ment with the upper and lower surfaces of the rubbers. r

11. A tubing oil saver comprising oppositely arranged rubbers having means for engaging a tubing, cages embracing the outer edges of the rubbers and having their end portions provided with attaching members 110 extended into said rubbers, fastening members extending through said rubbers and through the attaching members of the cages, the inner edges and the outer surfaces of the rubbers being entirely free of fastening de- 115 vices, a housing receiving said rubbers and having its inner surfaces arranged in parallel relation to each other and having substantially liquid tight engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the rubbers, said hous- 12o ing being provided with oppositely arranged extensions having caps provided with threaded portions, and adjusting screws extending through said caps and having connection with said cages. v

12. A packer for tubing oil savers comprising a plurality of tubing contact rubbers having their end portions formed with recesses, cages having attaching portionsreceived in said recesses, and fastening devices extending 130 through said rubbers and said attaching portions, said fastening devices being located between the upper and lower surfaces of the rubber and being free from engagement with thetubing contact portions of said rubbers.

13. The combination in a tubing oil saver of a housing having a central vertical opening, the upper end of the housingbeing rovided with a flaring slip socket surroun ing said vertical opening, a base flange on the lower end of the housing surrounding the central opening, the housing having cavities intermediate the slip socket and the base flange and on opposite sldes of the centralopening, ca es slidable'transversely of the housin in said cavities, adjusting screws mounte in the outer ends of the cavities of the housing and having swivel connections at their inner ends with the ca es, and elastic contact members in which t e cages are embedded and having sliding contact with the top, sides and bottom walls of the cavities of the casing, the

contact members having curved tubing-engaging faces and provided with an annular recess intermediate their ends.

14. Ina device of the character disclosed, a casing he havin an enclosure portion, packing means within said enclosure portion,

* said packing means comprising a split annulus formed of flexible materialfthere being wing members of flexible material formed on said split annulus, said wing members engaging a portion of the enclosure.

15. In a device of the character disclosed, a

' Em) v. oRowELL. 

